PRESTONSBURG, KY – The excitement is building in the Appalachian region as the finalists for the highly anticipated 2024 Appalachian Arts and Entertainment Awards, affectionately known as The Appys, were officially unveiled on Wednesday, January 17th, including several from Magoffin County.
The 2024 Appys, a celebration of exceptional talent and creativity across the Appalachian region, are set to be bigger and better than ever, promising a night filled with memorable moments and outstanding performances. The announcement of the finalists marks a significant milestone in this year’s awards season.
Jill Hamlin, Assistant Director of Fine Arts for Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) and founder of the Appys, shared her excitement about the nomination process. She stated that the journey began in the Fall when the official website www.theappyawards.com opened its doors to nominations from talented individuals and groups throughout the Appalachian region.
“The response to the nomination and voting process has been overwhelming,” said Hamlin. “We’ve witnessed an incredible outpouring of talent from all 13 states that make up the Appalachian region.”
Many may not realize the vast extent of the Appalachian footprint, which stretches from New York to Mississippi, encompassing numerous locations within these 13 states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Hamlin emphasized, “Having submissions from each of these states is a testament to the incredible talent and diversity within the region. It also reflects the widespread enthusiasm for an awards ceremony that showcases the very best of what the entire Appalachian region has to offer.”
The finalists, carefully chosen through a rigorous process that involved over 639,000 votes cast by the public, now face the discerning judgment of a panel of esteemed industry professionals. The winners of each category will be revealed during the highly anticipated 2024 Appy Awards.
The 2024 Appy Awards ceremony promises to be an unforgettable event, set to take place at The Mountain Arts Center on Saturday, March 16th. The festivities will commence with a star-studded Red-Carpet Event at 6pm, followed by the award ceremony at 7pm.
Tickets for this glamorous evening can be purchased by visiting www.macarts.com or by calling 1-888-MAC-ARTS. Accommodations for the event can also be found by visiting www.prestonsburgky.org
The 2024 Appy Awards are not just an awards ceremony; they are a celebration of Appalachian talent, creativity, and the spirit of artistic innovation. Be part of this extraordinary event and witness the crowning of the Appalachian region’s brightest stars.
Top 2024 APPY Finalists:
| Best Acting/Drama/Speech/ Educator |
| Crockett Ward |
| Denise Watkins |
| Leah Turley |
| Best Art Educator |
| Shawna Arnold |
| Tara Helser |
| Taylor Stacey |
| Best Dance Educator |
| Ariane Blevins |
| KY Dance Academy |
| Lora Rice
|
| Best High School Band |
| Dobyns Bennett High School |
| Estill County |
| Norwin High School |
| Best High School Choir |
| Anderson High School Choir |
| Parkersburg High School Chamber Choir |
| Stewarts Creek High School |
| Best Music Educator |
| Bobby Maynard |
| Jenean Michelle Freeman |
| Sarah Kate Morgan |
|
Best Sculpture/Pottery
Carvel and Ashley Norman: Dirty South Potter Jarrid Scott Mark Vance
|
Best Social Media Influencer
Jerry Andrews
Kisha Royse
TN Brando
EP of the Year
Hunter Flynn: Appalachian Soul
Zoe Howard: Peace N Whereabouts
Tiffaney Nesbeth: Beautiful Drug
Album of the Year
Joe Clark: 10 Years too Late
The Goodwin Brothers: If You hadn’t Noticed
Josh Pantry: Smilin’ From Beer To Beer
Best Bassist:
Ashton Brett Dunn
Oliver Sayani
Tom Mallory
Best Keyboardist:
Alex Marcum
Cooter Daniel
Jeff Rehmet
Best Drummer Percussionist
Chris Robbins
Eddie Joseph Baldwin
Rick Loyd
Best Painting
Michelle Ward Ciancio
Tiffini Sherbing
Suzanne Barrett Justis
| Best Music Festival |
| Bristol Rhythm and Roots |
| Mountain Music Festival |
| North Fork Music Festival (City of Hazard)
|
Best Podcast
Appalachian Vibes Radio Show
Godly Woman Podcast
Steve Shell and Cam Collins for Old Gods of Appalachia
Best Radio Personality
| Brittany Rowe |
| Tyler Wolfe |
| Loretta Friend |
| Best Small Live Music Venue (500 seats or fewer) |
| Manchester Music Hall |
| The Purple Fiddle |
| The Jettie Baker Center |
Best Recording Studio/Engineer/Producer
Fat Cave Studios
Mill Springs Studio
Matt McQueen, Gem City Studios
| Best TV Personality |
| Lynda Fontaine: WTFM |
| Brandon Robinson: WYMT |
| Steven Hensley: WYMT |
Best Photographer
Larry Epling
Morgan Ravenscraft
Suzanne Mularz
Best Jazz/ Latin/Big Band/World
New Orleans Jazz Ramblers
Santa Cruz Band
The Hunt Butler Band
Best Original Song
Adalyn Ramey
Darrell Pittman
Tina Taylor
Best POP
Alabaster Boxer
Rags and Riches
The Uptown Band
Best Religious/Worship/Spiritual
Jarfly Gospel Hour Band
Jeremy Zeller
Olivia Atwood
Best Rock
Ashton Brett Dunn
Ian Abel
Shades of Raven
Best Singer Songwriter
Donnie Bowling
Holly Forbes
Spooky Fox
Best Digital Mixed Media
Chris Burkhardt
Megan Brougton
Payton Martin
Best Americana:
Earl Bowman
Phoebe White
Ron Short
Best Bluegrass:
Jerry Andrews
Jonathan Goodwin
Patricia Wallen
Best Blues:
Asheville Cats
Brando Vanschoyck
Rachel Crowe
Best Country:
Earl Bowman
Logan Purcell
Savannah Dean Revees
Best Funk/R&B/Reggae
3rd Generation Band
Brett Higgins and the Family
Tribal Legacy
Best Indie/Indie Folk
Brando Vanschoyck
Elonzo Wesley
Jack Shields Band
Best Logo Design/ Graphic Designer
Eric Hersey
Jeff Clark
Jess Bowman
Best Cover Band/Variety Act:
Eddie Jenkins
Pink Ladies
Thomas Taylor
Best Guitarist:
Cody Lee Meece
Jonathan New
Rob Lightner
Best Strings (Non-guitar/Bass)
- Tom Hnatow
Sharon Wenson
Tiffany Rose Shanta
Best Female Vocalist:
Holly Forbes
Morgan White
Tyra Madison
Best Male Vocalist:
Brando Vanschoyck
Chase Bush
Matt Mullins
Best Music Video:
Morgan White: Not IN This Heartbreak
Matt Mullins: Homesick
The Goodwin Brothers: Everyday Thing
Best Jewelry Design
Chloe May
Monica Harlan
Tina Rush
Best Tattoo Artist:
Fawn Baker
Matt Bartley
Tattoo Charlie’s
Best Traditional Appalachian
Ashton Brett Dunn
Cigar Box String Band
- Boone Pittman
Best Textile
Bet Ison
Susan Downs Freeman
Joey McKenney
Best Large Live Music Venue (501 seats or greater)
Charleston Coliseum
Corbin Arena
The Burl
Best Original Movie/ Short Film/Documentary
David Stokes Piercy
Elaine Sheldon/Curran Sheldon
Kevin Everson
Best Autor/Writer
DeeDee Cox
Samantha Arthurs
Storm Young
